Negotiations on a global treaty on plastic pollution are being blocked by oil-producing countries and getting bogged down in a "dialogue of the deaf", sources at the talks told AFP on Thursday.

Ten days of talks on finalising an international, legally-binding accord opened on Tuesday amid optimism from organisers that a deal could be done to tackle the scourge of plastic rubbish and microplastics trashing the planet.

But by Thursday, after countries had staked out their positions, the mood had darkened, negotiating sources said.

"We are in a dialogue of the deaf, with very few landing zones... I don't see progress," said a diplomatic source from a country in a coalition of nations pushing for a strong treaty, including plastic production reduction targets.

"What's worrying is that we h

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